Ellsworth Inaugural 10K race

Many of you know that I had Achilles surgery in August of 2016. My injury involved the back of my heel where the Achilles attaches. I have been struggling to run since then. Summer has just started in Maine, but I did manage to run here and there throughout the winter when the roads were clear enough.

So far this year, I have done 4 5Ks, and I am getting better slowly… very slowly. Certainly not as fast as I had hoped. Since I am registered for my favorite race, Beach to Beacon 10K in August, I thought I would try this new 10K to get an idea of how my ankle would respond. And soooo… onto the recap.

[ Lined up at the start, ready to go! ]

Weather was HOT for Maine. I was fortunate to see a few people (out of the 100+ runners) that I know there. One of them, is a gal who has been a role model to me since I started running again in 2011. Jen Boudreau, it’s always great to see you!

When we left the staring point, it was already 75* out. There was a breeze, but for the majority of the race, the trees were blocking it. This race is a new one in the town of Ellsworth. The course went straight down Route 1A which is the main traffic flow through Ellsworth to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. As you can imagine the road is very busy. We were running in the breakdown lane with traffic.

[ Nearing the turn towards the finish at the track ]

So how did I do? Well looking at my stats, my first two miles were awesome at an 11:00min pace. But, then the hills started and my Achilles started to hurt. I took advantage of all the downhill slopes that I could, but between my ankle and the heat, I ended up walking much more than I had wanted. Considering that in the grand scheme of things, I’m lucky to be able to run at all so I will take what I can get.

[ Elevation Map ]

I could go on and on about this, but basically I just have to say that despite the heat and the Achilles issues, I had fun. I proved to myself that I can still put myself out there and run, even if it does hurt more than I like. If I had the chance to decide on surgery again would I go through with it? Absolutely. Yes it has been a challenge, but I will persevere and get through this. My Achilles surgeon ( Dr James Fullwood at Sebasticook Valley Hospital ) is really good at helping me stay focused and telling me to hold back when it’s needed. His support has really brought me through some rough times in my recovery. For anyone considering Achilles surgery for Insertional Tendonosis, do your research. Make sure you are ready for the challenges ahead. Reach out to me if you have questions. As always, thanks for reading!